The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-02-26
Our State Capital Correspondence
Special to the CARBON ADVOCATE.

Special to the CARBON ADVOCATE
FEBRUARY 23rd, 1887.
There is one fact, conspicuous for its
prominence, in connection with the Sena-
tors and Assemblymen and that is they
do not make much of an effort to gain ad-
mission into the social world. The major
ity of the members seem to find pleasure
sufficient in fixing the result of the next
Presidential election and cogiating OH the
possible success or inevitable failure of some
particular bill while they clown" a bottle
of royal port or genuine old burgundy.
Members as rule appear purposely to
leave their social ambition at home with
their families, and some so far forget them
selves as to make one wonder if they even
ever possessed single iota of sociabilty
bordering on to freedom of action in the
gddy whirl of the "weai best sawciety, you
know" and we have the "weal best here
without doubt. 1t is very seldom that
members of either House bring their faml-
les here, but one reason for this may be
that. the salary of the legislator will not
permit it; that is, will not permit the rent
ing of sumptously furnished apartments
and the entertainment of friends on the
scale of magnifcence. There are members
here who do not get home at all during the
session of the Legislature, on account of
representing the far away counties. Such
members, however make good use of their
free passes to the city of Brotherly Love,
where they gain vast amount of metro
politan experience with which they aston
ish their bucolic constituency for the re-
mainder of their lives. In speaking of the
social sphere we might add that, although
the Executive Mansion is a large and COM
modious as wella maGniicently furnished
house, constructed, seemingly, for the pur-
pose of conveniently entertaining large
gatherings, no elaborate entertainments
have been held by the Governors during
the past twenty years, for the reason
that there has been but few, if any, who
could afford to do so. The social efforts,
although carried on veIy economically. have
taken, invariably, every fraction OF the
Governors salary, and they retire from the
Executive Mansion considerably poorer,
financially, than when they took possession.
During the past four years the Governors
mansion has been tho scene of very little
gayiety, however, Mrs Pattison entertained
few very intimate friends occasionally.
Nevertheless, the executive family is wei
in every household whenever they feel
disposed to take advantage of the generous
hospitality of our people
The appropriation bills calendared so far
are those making appropriations for the
Huntington Reformatory, the Reform
School at Morganza, the Pennsylvania Deaf
and Dumb Asylum, the purchase of the
House of Refuge, for memorial tablets at
Gettysburg, for the care and treatment of
the INDECENT insane, the Training School
for Imbecile Children, Western Deaf and
Dumb Institution. Mercy and West Penn
Hospitals and the pcnitentiaries. Apropos
of appropriation matters, we are reminded
of the many kind references made TO the
late Elisha DAVIS, at one time so consplcu-
Gus political figure in the State. One of
his strong predictions in legislation was
fostering tondness for all the many chari
ties and eleemosynary institutions of the
State, and he was ever ready to defend and
uphold them. A peculiarity frequently
noted was the delight with which he used
to keep in the back ground in legislation
until some new and fresh young member,
anxious for a reputation, at any cost, for
economy, would arise and attack some one
the old and reliable charity appropriations.
Davis, who was a brilliant debater and a
master OF many subjects, would get mp in
bis clever way and proceed to read the
obituary of the rash young man from the
economic "deestrick," with an ease and
pleasure for which he was so well-known
Newmyers resolution in the Senate and